Age-Proofing Your Eyes to Preserve Vision

senior anti-ageingWhile Americans spend billions of dollars each year on how they LOOK, little attention is given to how they SEE. Seniors are especially vulnerable to eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts, as well as hypertension-related eye damage such as retinal vein occlusion.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology issued guidelines on aging and the eye as a result of its 2015 Eye-Q© Survey[1. American Academy of Ophthalmology https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remember-your-eyes-when-it-comes-to-fighting-the-signs-of-aging-300138352.html] (updated with 2016 data).

Here is a summary of their recommendations.

Continue reading “Age-Proofing Your Eyes to Preserve Vision”

Glaucoma Tips Based on Current Research Studies

stop glaucomaLifestyle can have a significant impact on the progression of glaucoma. Patients should follow their ophthalmologist’s advice. Also, research has shown that certain behavioral changes can help preserve vision. Natural Eye Care offers these tips.

Get Moving to Fight Glaucoma

If you are sedentary and have a glaucoma diagnosis, you can expect strong benefits from becoming active. A meta analysis[1. Clin J Sport Med. 2014 Sep;24(5):364-72. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000073. Reductions in intraocular pressure after acute aerobic exercise: a meta-analysis. By Roddy G et. al.] showed that exercise reduced intraocular pressure in patients. The effect was largest on those who were sedentary Continue reading “Glaucoma Tips Based on Current Research Studies”

Eye Disease in Seniors & Age 40+ Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration

senior eye disease cataractsMiddle-aged people and seniors are far more likely to develop Macular Degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy than those in their youth. It is true that some eye diseases strike the young. These tend to be genetically-based diseases, and they are rare. The incidence of eye diseases in the United States goes up dramatically with age: Continue reading “Eye Disease in Seniors & Age 40+ Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration”

Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Complete Overview from Natural Eye Care

retinal vein occlusionRetinal Vein Occlusion is the blockage of veins that drain blood from the retina in the eye. The eye circulatory system depends on releasing blood back to the heart after it has nourished the retina. When the vein is blocked, hemorrhaging occurs, damaging the retina. It is typically caused by atherosclerosis, a common condition especially in older people that damages the arteries. “Occlusion” means the blockage or closing of a blood vessel.

Symptoms and How Retinal Vein Occlusion Is Diagnosed

A sudden change in vision may indicate retinal vein occlusion.

  • A blurred or missing area of vision is the most common, indicating a branch vein occlusion
  • Less commonly, there is a severe loss of central vision, associated with a central vein becoming blocked.

Any sudden vision changes should be reported Continue reading “Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Complete Overview from Natural Eye Care”

Using the Eyes to Detect Diseases

eye-detect-200The eyes are not just the mirrors of our souls – they also reflect many of our diseases. Because they are the only place in the body where you can easily see blood vessels and even part of the brain via the optic nerve, they can be used to detect a number of diseases.

A large study of 120,000 people by the insurance company, VSP Vision Care, found that 34% of diabetes patients first found out about their disease from an eye exam. High blood pressure Continue reading “Using the Eyes to Detect Diseases”

Watermelon Helps Fight Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Eye Disease

watermelon
Image via USDA.gov

File this heart healthy fact away for next summer’s barbecue season: watermelon can help fight hypertension.

Florida State University gave nine prehypertensive study participants the amino acid L-citrulline/L-arginine from watermelon extract for six weeks and all of them exhibited improved arterial function and lower aortic blood pressure.

Watermelon is also a source of vitamins A, B6, C, fiber, potassium and the antioxidant lycopene.  Antioxidants are vital to eye health and help to fight the free radical oxidation damage that causes eye diseases like macular degeneration.

Study author Arturo Figueroa highlights another condition that could benefit from daily watermelon intake: diabetes.  “Individuals with increased blood pressure and arterial stiffness especially those who are older and those with chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes would benefit from L-citrulline in either the synthetic or natural (watermelon) form,” he said. “The optimal dose appears to be four to six grams a day.”

Diabetes can lead to the eye condition diabetic retinopathy.

Learn more about nutrients in food that can treat and prevent disease.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/204527.php

7 Foods to Avoid If You Have High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

pickles are high in sodiumDo you have high blood pressure or hypertension? If so, take a look at these foods you should avoid due to their high sodium content. The upper limit of sodium per day is 2300 mg (1 teaspoon). Too much sodium does direct damage to the heart and arteries and raises blood pressure significantly.

Here are common foods that quickly add up sodium in your diet:

  1. Pickles – one medium size pickle (about 5 inches long) has approximately 570 mg of sodium.
  2. Canned Chicken Noodle Soup – up to 880 mg of sodium per one-cup serving
  3. Sauerkraut – ½ cup has about 460 mg of sodium
  4. Fast food French fries – has approximately 270 mg of sodium and 19 grams of unhealthy fat.
  5. Bacon – 3 slices has about 270 mg of sodium and 4.5 grams of fat
  6. Frozen pot pies – one serving has about 1300-1400 mg of sodium.
  7. Ramen noodles – one package has about 1580 mg of sodium

Continue reading “7 Foods to Avoid If You Have High Blood Pressure or Hypertension”

Flavonoids in Deeply Colored Berries Protect People From Disease

blueberries and raspberries antioxidantsA fruit cup of mixed berries is a powerful snack: deeply colored fruits are filled with flavonoids and other antioxidants that help protect the body from disease. Antioxidants help prevent free-radical damage, which is believed to be responsible for the onset of eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

The colored flavonoids found in berries are called “anthocyanins”. These water-soluble pigments make plants shades of red, purple and blue. Berries also contain flavonoids called “quercetin” and “apigenin”. In the field or in the wild, these flavonoids help protect the plant from pests and insects.

Continue reading “Flavonoids in Deeply Colored Berries Protect People From Disease”

Strengthen Your Muscles from Your Eyes to Your Toes

exercise for the elderly including the eyesWhen you are in your 30’s, your skeletal muscle mass will peak. After that, they will reduce slightly in number and size every year. By the time you are in your 50’s, 15% of muscle mass may be lost, and by your 80’s, as much as 30% of muscle mass may be lost.

Obviously, strength training is crucial to strengthen your muscles and  increase their size. Being strong and fit helps maintain good health and energy, reduces osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, burns calories for weight management, improves sleep, cuts cancer risk, and much more!

Everyone should make exercise a priority throughout their lives. However, up to 75% of older Americans do not get enough exercise.(1)

It is generally recommended that older adults should do strength training two or three times per week, performing 10-15 repetitions of approximately 8 to 10 different exercises.(1)

Recent research Continue reading “Strengthen Your Muscles from Your Eyes to Your Toes”

Drink Green Tea to Reduce Body Fat

Weight loss scaleDid you over-indulge in too many high-calorie foods over the holidays? Put on a few extra pounds? Two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, and a few extra pounds add up to health risks. However, drinking green tea may help fight body fat and also lower cholesterol levels.

Green tea is lower in caffeine than coffee, so it makes a great coffee substitute. A high intake of caffeine can cause nervousness, dependence, and sleep problems.

A recent, small study on green tea in Japan showed that taking green tea extract was associated with losing body fat and weight. The more green tea extract the study participants took, the bigger the effect. The subjects also had lower LDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure (to counteract hypertension). Continue reading “Drink Green Tea to Reduce Body Fat”